Teammates Mentoring Program By: Melissa Kepler

Teammates Mentoring Program By: Melissa Kepler
Posted on 11/10/2014
This is the image for the news article titled Teammates Mentoring Program  By: Melissa Kepler

Tom & Nancy Osborne founded Teammates Mentoring Program in 1991 to provided support and encouragement to school aged youth. The goal for the program is to see youth graduate from high school and pursue a post-secondary education. Youth meet one hour per week with a caring adult in the community who serves as a mentor. A mentor is a volunteer from the community who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in the life of a young person. Mentors give youth a sense of hope, purpose and vision. The Teammates Mentoring Program currently provides a mentor for over 7,000 youth across Nebraska and Iowa.

    I started in the Teammates Mentoring Program when I was a freshman and continued through my senior year. I met with my mentor once a week. We did some actives like playing basketball to cooking to helping out with my homework and also we went to a local music concert. In the fall, the Teammates Program as a group went to watch a football game at Chardon State College. In the spring, Teammates Mentoring Program has a walk around the track for an hour.  

     At the end of every school year we all gather together to have a party to celebrate the year and honor the graduates. I received a medal that has Tom Osborne’s picture on it and also a scholarship for $400 for college from the Teammates Mentoring Program.

    The benefits that I got from the Teammates Mentoring Program was making a new friend with my mentor. Some of my friends were also in Teammates Mentoring Program. Whenever a Mentee has a problem with anything they can talk with their Mentor to solve their problems. It has been a great experience for me to be part of the Teammates Mentoring Program, because I got to hang out with my mentor each week.  

    One way you can help the youth in your community is by volunteering to be a mentor in the Teammates Mentoring Program. After being part of Teammates Mentoring Program, I would someday like to be a Mentor.